SUBMARINE DISASTER

Hokitika Guardian, 16 November 1925, Page 1

SUBMARINE DISASTER

[Australia & N.Z. Cable Association.)

VESSEL CANNOT BE RAISED. LONDON, November 13

At 11.30 o’clock this morning, news was received from Portsmouth that Admiral Sir J. Oliver, the Comma ndcri n-Chief of the Atlantic Fleet, had received, aboard His Majesty’s ship, Revenge, a wireless message saying:— “The ships searching for M.l. apparently' located the submarine, twelve miles south by west of Star Point, but tho depth is too great to permit of diving. The message stated that there still was a faint hope that the crew would lie. alive, as it has been ascertained that there had been no collision, but tlte great size of tho submarine makes it practically impossible to raise Iter. It is pointed out that M.l would be able to remain under water for from thirty-six to forty-eight hours without endangering the lives of tho crew il she were not: holed. The Admiralty issued a statement that every effort was being made to locate M.l, but added that owing to tho number of wrecks, the depth of water in the neighbourhood and the absence of any indications, such as oil or air bubbles, considerable difficulty was anticipated before any success would be obtained.

So far, the Admiralty added, they had not received any intelligence enabling them to credit the report that the submarine had been located. Just when the evening papers were announcing that tho sunken submarine had been located, the Admiralty issued a statement to the cflect that no intelligence had been received justifying the credence of the earlier report, which stated that Admiral Oliver laid received a radio announcing the submarine’s discovery.

This radio report had apparently originated from the fact that a sweeper was on the point of abandoning a particular area, when a faint sound from tho .hydrophone suggested that tho drag had caught a submerged body. This was promptly radioed to Portsmouth.

The Admiralty’s official denial said: “Owing to the number of wrecks and the depth of the water around tho point, and the absence of oil or air bubbles considerable difficulty is likely to bo experienced in finding the submarine.”

Experts comment on the ominous absence of oil, which the crew would release to attract attention.

HOPE- ABANDONED. LONDON Nov. 14. An official message states: The Admiralty' have abandoned hope for tho submarine.’’ “A survivors’ memorial service lias been arranged at Portsmouth Dockyard Church on Nov. 17t1i.” The total of the missing has increased to sixty-nine. The Admiralty' have issued an additional name. Lieut. Commander Alec Carrie, Commander of “M.l” was married only last December. A son was born five weeks

The “Evening Standard’s” correspondent aboard the warship Revenge telegraphed: “The submarine’s bulk precludes the possibility of raising her. Furthermore it is most unlikely that she could withstand the intense pressure at the depth of 240 feet. It is also significant that “M.l” has not used tho undersea signalling apparatus to reply to messages sent to her by tho same means.” The. King has sent a message to the Commander of the Atlantic Fleet, expressing deep regret and sympathy at the loss.

TRADE OPENINGS. VANCOUVER. Nov. 13. Mr TV. A. Crank, editor of “Industrial Canada.” lias arrived hack by the Aorangi. Interviewed, he said he was convinced that the Australian protective policies would make tho markets there hard for the Canadians to penetrate. Nevertheless he had discovered openings for a treaty. A big winter movement of Australian dairy products to Canada was certain.

SPECIAL APPARATUS. (Received this day at 8 a m.) LONDON, November 13. At the Admiralty’s request a German firm at Kiel is sending to Plymouth special apparatus enabling divers to work to a depth of 3(50 feet in order not to neglect any possible chance of reaching the lost submarines.